Starting in 1991, captive-born ferrets were reintroduced at 18 sites, including the U.L. Bend National Wildlife Refuge (located within the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge) and on Bureau of Land Management lands in Phillips County, Montana.
In 2013, the reintroduction site received an additional 20 captive-bred ferrets to boost the population, and the nearby Fort Belknap Indian Reservation also reintroduced 32 ferrets on tribal lands. Unfortunately, the U.L. Bend/CMR site recently documented only one surviving ferret and the population is believed to again be extinct.
We are working to grow prairie dog populations on our land, and connect prairie dog complexes at American Prairie to complexes on the CMR. By doing so, we hope to provide a robust and sustainable food source for the ferrets ahead of future reintroduction efforts in our area.